French

Card, 14.5 x 12cm, stained and dulled but clear and complete. With a slip hooked on it, 9 x 9cm, with text mainly in capitals as follows: This invitation together with this slip must be presented at the Entrance for Admittance || Use 49th Street Private | Ballroom Entrance ONLY; [Invitation] Printed Text: Le général de Gaulle , président du Gouvernement provi- soire de la République française vous prie de lui faire l'honneur d'assister à la réception qu'il donnera au Waldorf Astoria le lundi 10 juillet 1944 | 6 a 8 hr. | Salle Basildon Room [handwritten]. Note: a.

Something of an historic document. In February and March of 1814 Vincence had led the French delegation at the Congress of Châtillon peace conference, at which his counterpart was Lord Aberdeen, with the British Home Secretary Lord Castlereagh arriving partway through. On behalf of Napoleon, Vincence had led, with little success the subsequent negotiations with Russia, Prussia and Austria which resulted in Napoleon’s abdication and exile to Elba, by the signing of the Treaty of Fontainbleau, a month before the present letter, on 11 April 1814, which was ratified by Vincence.

There can be few greater falls from grace than Petain's in the whole of human history. A 10 x 6.25 calling card. In good condition, lightly aged and ruckled, with glue and traces of paper mount on the blank reverse. The engraved text ('LE MARECHAL PETAIN / Ministre de la Guerre') is centred, with the top line in shaded block capitals and the bottom in copperplate. Beneath this Petain writes: 'avec ses remer'. See Image.

See his entry in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1p, 16mo. Twenty-two lines. On watermarked laid paper. Seven numbered memoranda, possibly an aide-mémoire for a speech. Begins: ‘1o. la loi égale pour tous.’ Later on: ‘1o Ce n’est point un droit que la loi accorde; c’est un devoir qu’elle impose. et pour imposer ce devoir, elle n’a vue que son interêt. / une fonction publique n’est pas le droit de tous; elle est le devoir de quelques uns.’ And later: ‘5o. Quoi le Pere est b[?] . . . . les Dieux de l’oncle sont confisqués.’ The seventh and last memorandum concerns ‘Les malheureux!

The two items are on variations of the revolutionary letterhead of the Prefect of the Drôme Department, with oval medallion illustration of a seated liberty with a phrygian cap on a stick, forearm leaning on the fasces and the words ‘Libérté’ and ‘Égalité’. The printed decree is in good condition, lightly aged, with slight foxing and discoloration. The secretarial letter is in fair condition, with darker patches of discoloration.

A nice original item, unsigned but certainly in Florian’s distinctive hand. 1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with neat white-paper mount adhering to one edge on the blank reverse. Foliated 93. Sixteen-line poem, beginning ‘Sur le pont-neuf, entouré de badauds, / un charlatan criait a pleine tete, / venez, messieurs, accourez faire emplette / du grand remede a tous les maux.’ In the last line the remedy is revealed as ‘un peu de poudre d’or’.

An excellent letter, exhibiting precisely the sort of indignation one would wish for from such a renowned satirist. As a result of the furore caused by the publication in 1762 of his best-known work, ‘Le Colporteur’, Chevrier fled to Holland. The French government attempted to have him extradited, and his death that same year was rumoured to have been caused by poisoning. 3pp, 4to. On bifolium. Thirty-nine lines of text. In good condtion, lightly aged. The item has been expertly mounted, and the thin white-paper mount still adheres to reverse of the final leaf.

See his entry in the Encylopaedia Britannica. The signature ‘Mirbel’ is written on a clear area of a circular printed device of 4.5 cm diameter, in grey tone, within decorative border. The text reads: ‘MUSEUM / D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE / AU JARDIN DU ROI / Entrée aux Jours et Heures / consacrés à l’Etude. / Prof. Admin.’ Laid down on a 7 x 7.5 cm piece of paper, on which is written, in a neat early nineteenth-century hand, ‘Mirbel the naturalist’. See image.

This item is from the autograph album of the author George Meredith's daughter Marie Eveleen (Mariette; 1871-1933), wife of Henry Parkman Sturgis (1847-1929), American-born banker and Liberal politician. It does not however appear to be addressed to Meredith, but rather to the author William Sharp (‘Fiona Macleod’). See the several references to Bourget in the first volume of W. F. Halloran’s edition of Sharp’s letters. 1p, 16mo. Laid down on part of gilt-edged leaf from Mrs Sturgis’s album. In good condition, folded once for postage.

From the autograph album of the novelist George Meredith's daughter Marie Eveleen (Mariette; 1871-1933), later the wife of Henry Parkman Sturgis (1847-1929), American-born banker and Liberal politician. Queen Victoria lent Claremont House to the Count of Paris’s father Louis-Phillipe, after his abdication and flight from France. On one side of an 11 x 7.5 cm piece of grey paper. In good condition, lightly aged. Written in a neat hand, it reads: ‘With the compliments of the Count de Paris and his thanks for the books send [sic] by Mr. Meredith. / Claremont 31/5/63’.

A nice item relating to a significant figure in French nineteenth-century history. Such was Boulanger’s popularity with the French working classes in the late 1880s that it was believed that he could make himself dictator. Stylish and dynamic signature ('Genl: Boulanger'), on back of 9.5 x 6.5 cm calling card. In good condition, lightly aged. The words ‘Général Boulanger’ are printed in large letters on the front of the card, and nothing else.

The anonymous author of this material is evidently a well-educated individual, and well-versed in the sciences. He has taken great care over the material, and it can be presumed that his intention was either to try for publication, or use it while lecturing.

Two pages, 8vo, bifolium, faint staining, text clear, good condition. The handwriting can be a little obscure. Text: Je ne sais comment vous remercier, Monsieur, de l'amabilite que vous avez de m'envoyer votre beau volume 'Ballads and Poems'. Je l'ai lu. J'ai meme relu la plupart des pieces. Et bien que ma connaissance imparfaite de la langue anglaise ne me permette pas de porter un jugement sur votre oeuvre, il me semble que [l'emotion?] a la fois delicate et forte que vous avez eveille en [?] art la [preuve?] que vous avez reussi a toucher la corde humaine.

See image. A nice item, linking two important figures in French history. 1p, foolscap 8vo, on the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of unwatermarked gilt-edged wove paper. Aged and lightly creased, with short closed tears and wear at the head. The ten lines of neatly written text are neatly and clearly signed ‘Louis’, and there is a wavy and almost vertical line from the king’s signature to that of ‘Chateaubriand’ at bottom right of the page.

One page, 12mo, unsigned, bifolium, good condition. Note by another hand in top left corner, lettre de Masclet. Text (unsigned): J'envoye a Monsieur Mollard la copie du memoire sur la place du chemin de fer entre Liverpool et Manchester. | On pourra annoncer a l'institute un autre memoire plus developpe sur l'etat actuel du chemin de fer entre Darlington et Stockto: j'en enverrais une copie si on la desire. | Je [?] de me rendre [la france jeudi?] a 2 h 1/2: serait il [possible?] a Mondieur Moll;ard de m'envoyer un second billet pour mon support, car j'ai besoin d'en avoir [un?].

Envelope, 12 x 9cm, small closed tears, dusted but text clear and complete. Text: Address M. le docteur Vintras | Hanover Square | London ; cross signed Mlle Louise Michel underlined. See image. Note: Vintras wasa Doctor and poet. Published The Silver Net in London in 1903 as well being the physician to the French Hospital in London and later Director of the French Convalescent Home at Brighton and of the Annexe for the Preventive Treatment of tuberculosis; George Charles Louis Vintras, B.Sc.Paris, M.D.Durh, obit.

1p, 16. On the recto of the first leaf of a bifolium of grey paper, with simple drawing in the same ink as the text of a straight plain walking stick stuck in the ground and running up the left-hand margin, with the handle hooked to the right at the top with the dating to its right. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: ‘le 25 Decembre 89.

The Catholic Encyclopedia declares him to be ‘one of the great preachers of modern times’.On one side of a 10.5 x 6 cm calling card, with slightly larger envelope. Card in good condition, lightly aged; envelope in fair condition. Printed on the card is ‘Le Cardinal Mermillod’, and beneath this he has written: ‘Présent au cher Mr. de la Bire Mr. & Mme. Jenner de Londres, il lui demande pour eux son cordial acceuil.’ Card is addressed to ‘Monsieur / Théodor de la Bire / hôtel d’Angleterre/’. See image

In French. Eleven pages, sm. fol., bifoliums, unbound, sl. dulled but good condition, text clear. A listing in columns: Patient; prescription (medicine given); cost. See Images of Pages [1] and [11]

One page, 20 x 19cm, part crumpled, and stained, small chips on edges, text which, despite disparity from signature, must surely be in Payen's hand, just legible and complete. Docketed in another hand. See Image.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, remnants of the paper it was laid down on on page 4. He looks forward to seeing his correspondent and his dogs at Fetcham [home of the Surrey Union Hunt kennels]. He'd like to know where nous elevons mettre le meet [word underlined]. He talks about the pack of 12 dogs peniblement reunis apres l'ouverture de la saison. He elaborates. See image for the remaining text.

One page, 4to, fold marks, one edge dusted, fold marks, ow good. Je vous remercie vivement de m'avoir envoyé l;article de Sir John Pollock. Que cette fidélité amicale et intelligence est raffraichissante [one f crossed out]. | Je vous félicite du travail que vous faites à Londres, et vous prie de croire a mon tres fidèle souvenir. Underneath Palewski's scrawled signature, Gros has added le ci est de Palewski I I think!) adding his own nearly illegible signature. See image.

Part of letter, 18.5 x 10, stained and grubby but text clear (see image), laid down on another piece of paper of the same size, as follows: Recevez, Monsieur le Comte, l'assurance de ma plus haute consideration | Le Prince de Wagram et de Neuchatel | Vice-connétable | Berthier ||

A rare and unusual item, distributed as news of the execution broke, no other copy of which has been traced, either on OCLC WorldCat or on COPAC. Printed on one side of a 59 x 48.5 cm piece of watermarked laid paper. In four columns of small print, surrounded by a thick-thin ruled border. Engraving (13.5 x 14.5 cm) of the moment of execution by guillotine at head of the central two columns. Aged and worn, with small drops of ink spattering, but with the text entirely legible and the engraving practically unmarked. Folded four times.

p, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. The recipient is not named. Addressed to 'Révérend et cher Monsieur'. Sixteen neatly-written lines of text. He thanks him 'mille fois' for the number of the 'Day of Rest'. He has read the recipient's article, as well as that of 'Madame Hunt', but he is sorry 'de n'être pas assez versé dans la connaissance de la langue anglaise, pour pouvoir apprécier vos écrits comme ils le méritent'. He hopes to make progress, and is at present reading the recipient's piece in the Contemporary Review, 'qui m'intéresse beaucoup'.

2pp, 4to. On leaf tipped-in onto a piece of light-green card from an album, at head of which is attached a printed slip: 'BARENTIN C. L. F. de P. | Born 1738. Died 1819. | KEEPER OF THE SEALS TO LOUIS XVI.' The letter is undated, but the year '1789' has been added in pencil in a nineteenth-century hand. (That same year, following the Storming of the Bastille, Barentin was dismissed by the king.) Nineteen lines of closely-written text. Addressed at bottom left of first leaf to 'M le P Gl' (Monsieur le Procureur général?).

Four pages including address panel, 4to, bifolium, edges dulled, a little foxing. He outlines what he has done (sending things?), in a one page letter, and, on the other two pages, given a detailed account of what he has done for the bookseller from December 1787 to May 1788, including "brochures" (pamphlets). The recipient has noted when he replied. See images on my website.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. With envelope. "En vous autorisant ce matin a prendre quelques photographies de mon appartement je n'ai entendu ni vous creez un droit a les reproduire ou a les venre a votre guise. Je vous [?] demande de m'envoyer des tirages pour les examiner, vous y refusez. Je me vois donc force de vous prevenir [...]" He proceeds in the same vein. Note: Dornac took photographs of both Marcel-Auguste and Jane Dieulafoy. He appears in Bernard Marbot, "After Daguerre: Masterworks of French Photography (1848-1900)".

Three pages, 8vo, black border, fold marks, small closed tears, text complete and clear. With official printed stamp next to signature, "Le Lt-Colonel DIEULAFOY | Charge du Service du Genie des Etapes". He has received an article in "L'Eveil" by his correspondent concerning his "chere compagne" [ Jane Dieulafoy, distinguished archaeologist, explorer and feminist, who died in May 1916, hence the black border to this letter ]. He specifies the putting in relief of the "initiative prise par ma chere compagne au printemps le 1913 [conscription of women, conference 1913 - see notes below].

See image on my website for full text. One page, cr. 8vo, foxed, minor damage, but text clear. Letter headed "Liberte egalite | [?] jour complementaire de lan g de la republique | Cornudet membre du Senat conservateur au Ministre de Finance| je vous [?], citoyen ministre, une petition du cite chabanne mon compatriote de departement tendante a obtenir une place de controlleur des contributions directes. | ce jeune homme sans fortune mais plein d'emulation s'est rendu dans le department du jura [?] d'un parent ingenieur des ponts et chaussees [?